About the Redemptorists

The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, moral theologian, bishop, and doctor of the Church wrote more than 100 books in his lifetime and was especially renowned for his works on moral theology. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris: CSsR), in Scala near Naples, Italy. Pope Benedict XIV formally approved the Congregation, known as the Redemptorists, in 1749.

The Congregation’s mission, set by St. Alphonsus Liguori, is to follow the example of Jesus Christ by preaching the Word of God to the poor and the most abandoned, particularly to those who live on the margins of Church and society. Parish preaching remains a major tenet of the Redemptorists.

In 1866 Pope Pius IX entrusted the original icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists, to protect and propagate this Marian religious work of art. Learn more about the history of the icon. Read how to interpret and pray with Our Mother of Perpetual Help from noted iconologist and Redemptorist Brother Dan Korn.

Apostolate of the Pen

The first Redemptorists arrived in America in 1832. In addition to preaching the Word of God, American Redemptorists followed the Apostolate of the Pen set by St. Alphonsus by sharing the Good News of Christ in print.

In 1913 five Redemptorist priests who were professors in the seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, founded Liguorian magazine. Now more than one century old, the initial circulation was 500, gained from people who had attended parish missions that were preached by the Redemptorists.

For three decades, Liguorian continued to be published at the seminary in Wisconsin. In 1932, Fr. Donald Miller served as rector of the seminary as well as editor of the magazine. Encouraging his students to write for Liguorian, the magazine came to enjoy national recognition and prominence. In 1947 Fr. Miller moved operations to Liguori, Missouri, south of St. Louis, and founded the Liguori Publications.

Liguori Publications is a ministry of the  Denver Province of Redemptorists. The campus contains one of the largest Catholic publishing houses in the country, a convent for the Redemptoristine nuns, and the Redemptorist community of Saint Clement, which includes health care of the senior members of the province. The successful ministry at Liguori Publications provided the wherewithal to build the St. Clement complex in 1988.

The Redemptorist Charism: Kitchen Table Catholics

Redemptorist Missionaries continue the charism of St. Alphonsus Liguori in the Church and in society.

“Strong in faith, rejoicing in hope, burning with charity, on fire with zeal, in humility of heart and persevering in prayer, Redemptorists as apostolic men and genuine disciples of Saint Alphonsus follow Christ the Redeemer with Hearts full of joy; denying themselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding and challenging, they share in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that they may bring to people Plentiful Redemption." (Redemptorist Constitutions, No. 20)

The Redemptorist charism is preaching the good news of plentiful redemption — that Jesus loves us and knows us by name. Like the Good Shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to find the lost sheep and rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:5), Redemptorists are called to serve and meet people “where they are” in their spiritual journey.

In addition to St. Alphonsus Liguori, other famous Redemptorists are St. Gerard Majella, the patron saint of mothers, and St. John Neumann. During the 1830s St. John Neumann was assigned a territory stretching from western New York to Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania. Because he traveled extensively to preach to Catholics, he celebrated the Mass in homes at kitchen tables.

Learn more about Redemptorist Spirituality by reading The Lexicon of Redemptorist Spirituality.

Learn more about Redemptorist Vocations. If you feel that you may have the calling to become a Redemptorist father, brother, or Redemptoristine sister, please contact:

Father Lamar Partin
Vocation Director
Link to Contact Form
Cell: 225-573-5111
redemptoristsdenver.org

Learn More about the Redemptorists

For more information on the Redemptorists and their ministries, visit:

The Redemptorists of the Denver Province

The Redemptorist Mission Team, Chicago

The Redemptorists of North America

The Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help